When Age is just a number

A mother’s love remains timeless and unconditional—forever nurturing, unwavering, always ready to protect and guide, no matter the age, and 75-year-old Dipnidevi Manu Mandal embodies this principle. Her decision to give her Kidney to her daughter, 36-year-old Gitadevi Saw, despite the challenges and risks involved, reflects this deep, unwavering bond, and thanks to the expertise, dedication, and care of the medical team at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital Vashi led by Dr Atul Ingale, Director- Nephrology & Consultant Transplant Physician, the transplant was a success.

Recalling how it all started, her recipients’ husband Mr Ratanlal Saw said, “Last year around November, Gita started feeling queasy and fatigued. She had a hard time digesting food, and would vomit after meals. When we took her to the doctor they diagnosed her with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) due to Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH), which eventually led to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). They told us she needed a Kidney transplant and was put on dialysis. Ultimately, the doctors suggested we go for a transplant to improve her quality of life. My mother-in-law came forward to save my wife’s life, and thankfully she was a perfect match.”

Talking about the transplant conducted on March 19, 2025, Dr Atul Ingale, Director- Nephrology & Consultant Transplant Physician, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, said “The donor is a perfect example of why age should not be a barrier when it comes to donating a Kidney; what truly matters is the health of the donor, and that the donor & the recipient are a match. With careful consideration and expertise, even a 75-year-old mother can give her child a gift of life again. Gitadevi was on maintenance Hemodialysis and that was impacting her quality of life significantly. Post-transplant she can lead a normal healthy life with no need for Dialysis.”

“Usually, the typical age cutoff for donors is usually around 60-65 years, but it can be extended in certain cases like Dipnidevi’s, if the donor is in good health and has no serious ailments, owing to leading a healthy lifestyle. The transplant was successful, with the donor (mother) being discharged after just four days and the recipient (daughter) after six days. The recipient's serum creatinine level (a marker of Kidney function) was normal (1.0),” he added.

Gitadevi is now back home with her husband and children. Her eldest has just started college while her youngest is still in school. Slowly and with the help of her loving family Gitadevi is learning to lead a healthy life again, ever grateful for her mother’s donation. As for the family they are looking forward to a future of hope and health, praying that their grandmother’s ultimate act of love will bring health and happiness for their mother, just as their grandmother had intended.